The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-13
The Increasing Strength ofProhibition

The Increasing Strength ofProhibition
The temperance cause is making steady
progress. 1t is doubtful if ever before in
the history of the country was the liquor
question so generally agitated. In one
place prohibition is adopted, and in another
high license There is no doubt that there
is a determination all over the country to
so limit the liquor traffic as to rid
society of its gravest evils, 1t is not
probable that prohibition will become gem
eral very soon, but it now appears to be
certain that temperance laws of some kind
will be quite generally adopted in the near
future outside of the cities, and as the tenn
perance sentiment grows in the country
districts the efforts to restrict
the liquor traffic in the cities will
become more marked. 1t will be a long
time perhaps before public sentiment in the
great cities will be sufficiently strong to sup
port stringent laws limiting the sale of in
toxicating liquors, but it certainly begins to
look as if even there the opponents of liquor
would eventually prevail. Recently, when
the low against selling intoxicating liquors
on Sunday in New York city was enforced
the decrease in the number of arrests for
minor offenses was so marked as to attract
great deal of attention in that city, and
to raise the question in the minds of many
thinking men there whether it would not be
good thing either to prohibit the sale of
intoxicating liquors within the city alto
gether or at least place it under such re
straints as to deprive it of many of its worst
features.
The high license law that is now in force
in Pennsylvania appears to be working sat
isfactorily II has had the effect of increas-
ing the demand for prohibition, and it would
not be surprising if the prohibition senti-
ment should, in future elections, manifest
itself more strongly throughout the State
than it has yet done. The contest in Texas
is being watched with great interest, and if
prohibition should be adopted by that State
itwould be urged in all parts of the country
with more vigOr than ever before
The prohibition contest in Floyd county III
this State last week was a notable one, and
gave the Prohibtionists great encourage
ment. They are certain to follow up their
victory there by efforts to bring the few re-
naming counties of the State, which
have not adopted prohibition, under
prohibition rule. Rome, the county seat of
Floyd county, was carried for prohibition
by handsome majority, and some of the
scenes which were witnessed in that city on
the day that prohibition was voted upon
show that the temperance cause has taken a
very strong hold upon the people there.
One good thing in connection with the
temperance movement in this State is that
it has been kept free from politics. This
has undoubtedly contributed to its success,
because it has not only made votes for tenn
perance, but it has insured sentiment
strong enough to enforce prohibition where
it has been adopted.
very few years ago the prohibition
movement was laughed at by the great ma
jority of people, and the prediction was
freely made that it would never amount to
anything 1t is not laughed at now, and it
is admitted that it has already amounted to
great deal What its future will be it is
impossible to say, but if the number of its
converts continue to increase as rapidly as
it is now increasing it will not be long be-
fore it will be in position to defy attacks
of any kind